Rio Jewish Heritage Half-Day Tour

4.8 (39 reviews) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Duration3h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesPortuguese, English, Spanish
Group sizeUp to 19 travelers
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

The Jewish presence in Rio de Janeiro started at the time of the first Portuguese navigators in the 1500´s. Since then, the Israelite immigration was constant, mainly thanks to the encouragement of a great admirer of the Jewish culture, the emperor D. Pedro II. For this tour we have selected the main attractions of the Jewish heritage in Rio de Janeiro, presented by expert tour guides.

If possible, besides the attractions listed we will also plan to visit, in Copacabana, the Beth El Synagogue and Clube Israelita Brasileiro, where they keep a comunity farmacy to help the ones in need.
Note: The synagogues Beth Yaacov (in the Eastern-European Ashkenazi rite) in Copacabana, and Beit Lubavitch (Orthodox Chasidic rite), in Leblon, may replace other synagogues, per client request.

Note:
- Visits to synagogues depend on availability on the day. If there is an internal event, we will not be able to enter.
- The Holocaust Memorial only opens from Thursday till Sunday.

What's included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned minivan / car
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Jewish Museum
  • Grand Synagogue, as a “Tzedakah”

What to expect

  1. 20m
    The tour will start with a visit to The Hebrew Union Shel Guemilut Hassadim, the oldest synagogue in Rio de Janeiro. It was founded by Moroccan Jews presumably in 1840, at a time when non-Catholic worship was prohibited in Brazil.
  2. 20m
    We will also visit the Park Itzhak Rabin / Mirante do Pasmado, with its privileged views over Botafogo beach and Sugar Loaf Mountain. On the way to Downtown, see Chaim Weitzman Square, a public school named after Anne Frank, and the neighborhood of Catete, where resident Jews formerly established a thriving furniture business.
  3. Memorial As Vitimas Do Holocausto
    20m · Admission ticket not included
    The Holocaust Memorial aims to preserve and make known the stories of victims and survivors of the genocide that hit Jews and other minorities to prevent them from being repeated. This space only opens from Thursday till Sunday, so plan your visit for one of those days if you really want to go there.
  4. Pass by
    We will pass through this special square named after Chaim Azriel Weizmann, the first President of Israel. There you will also be able to see the school named after Anne Frank.
  5. Grande Templo Israelita do Rio de Janeiro
    20m · Admission ticket included
    The Grande Templo Israelita Synagogue was one of the first synagogues in Rio. Completed in 1932 it boasts a grand archway topped by five smaller arches with beautiful mosaics that depict Jewish life
  6. Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro
    30m · Admission ticket not included
    The Jewish Museum of Rio de Janeiro, founded in 1977, with the donation of a menorah, is a cultural center whose activities are structured around the binomial preservation of memory / dynamism of Jewish culture. It maintains permanent exhibitions on the history of the Jewish community in Rio de Janeiro and the traditions of Judaism in all its aspects - religious, cultural and historical - and holds exhibitions at its headquarters and other institutions, as well as promoting academic research on immigration and annual competitions for students.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
End point
Pickup details

Pickup starts 30min before the tour, at 9:00am, and goes till 9:30am.
Each hotel have a specific timing according to the it's location. Please contact us for the exact time. Important: for operational reasons our pickup happens only in selected hotels in Copacabana, Leme, Ipanema and Leblon.

Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • Please dress appropriately
  • Kosher lunch is available upon previous request

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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4.8 (39)
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